093_HR0238 LRB093 11586 KEF 14885 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 3 Representatives congratulate Mayor Thomas C. Carper of Macomb 4 on his retirement after many years of dedicated service to 5 the people of Macomb; and 6 WHEREAS, Mr. Carper has served the city of Macomb as 7 Mayor since 1991; and 8 WHEREAS, Mayor Carper received a Bachelor of Arts from 9 Western Illinois University (WIU) in 1982; he joined the 10 military in 1967, where he served until 1970, including a 11 tour of duty in Thailand and Vietnam; following his military 12 service, he resided and worked in New Jersey before returning 13 to Macomb and opening a business in 1972; he returned to WIU 14 and earned a Board of Trustees degree; and 15 WHEREAS, One of the achievements that Mayor Carper is 16 proud of is the partnership between the St. Louis Rams 17 football team and the Macomb community; he was very 18 instrumental in bringing the St. Louis Rams to Macomb for 19 summer camp; and 20 WHEREAS, The city of Macomb has greatly benefitted from 21 the time and energy that Mayor Carper has given over the past 22 years; he has personally planted and nurtured hundreds of 23 trees to be used for beautification, and played an 24 instrumental role in the building of the Macomb 911 center; 25 he renovated the Macomb City Hall without raising taxes; he 26 initiated the Al Sears Annual Festival in 2002; he has worked 27 tirelessly for the Special Olympics, the Macomb Heritage 28 Days, and the Macomb Balloon Rally; in addition, he has 29 fostered a tremendous relationship between the City of 30 Macomb, Western Illinois University, and the surrounding 31 communities; and -2- LRB093 11586 KEF 14885 r 1 WHEREAS, Mayor Carper is affiliated with the United Way 2 Chair and Leighty Award, the WIU Performing Arts 3 Distinguished Service Award and the Ruth Watts Award; he is a 4 WIU Track and Field Official and the McDonough County 5 Rehabilitation Center Volunteer of the Year; and 6 WHEREAS, Mayor Carper is the Chair of the Amtrak Mayors' 7 Advisory Council; he is also a member, and on the Board of 8 Directors of the Illinois Municipal League; therefore, be it 9 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 10 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 11 we congratulate Mayor Thomas C. Carper on his retirement as 12 Mayor of Macomb and wish him good health and happiness in all 13 of his future endeavors; and be it further 14 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 15 presented to Mayor Thomas C. Carper as an expression of our 16 respect and esteem.